CORPUS CHRISTI — The Port of Corpus Christi has received approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for an offshore discard permit, allowing work to proceed on a proposed regional desalination facility.
Following receipt of the permit for offshore discharge into the Gulf of Mexico, the Port stated it will initiate steps to withdraw a smaller nearshore discharge permit obtained in late 2022. The action follows a resolution approved by the Port Commission in May 2025.
According to a Sept. 23 announcement from the Port, the TCEQ approval finishes the permitting process for the proposed Harbor Island Desalination Facility. Once constructed, the plant is designed to produce up to 100 million gallons of potable water daily for industrial and municipal operations.
“As a landlord port, the Port’s role is to manage maritime infrastructure and lease land, while private companies develop, build and operate facilities on that land,” Port Commission Chairman Gabe Guerra said in the release. “This final step in permitting a desalination facility on Harbor Island is pivotal for our region’s search for a long-term solution to water supply challenges, and we look forward to our lessee, the Nueces River Authority (NRA), and their private partner, IDE Technologies, continuing to progress the project to help bring water security to the Coastal Bend and Texas.”